October 14, 2017

WALLS

Walls…. 
Maybe that's what he's doing.

If he’s that nasty and inwardly disturbed, 
maybe he wants us to build walls
around him so as to hide from us 
and we'll gladly pay for them - 
but that's sick thinking as well. 
It's not good for anyone to be alone.

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

October 13, 2017

FRIDAY THE 13th

Why is Friday the 13^th bad,

spooky or what have you? Why?

Was it the day Jesus died?

Was it the day Judas cried?

Is time that relative? Are some

days different from other days?

Of course…. But as to Friday the 13^th,

carpe diem, live today to the full.

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

BEST PRACTICE

We still have time 
to go figure 
and to go reflect.

What would we want 
our last words
to another to be?

Try out possibles
to each other. Then practice 
the best on each other. 

October 12, 2017

BOOTS   ON   THE GROUND
MOON IN THE SKY

Walk around, look around, and on the ground,

we can see - all around - each other’s footprints,

old shoes, boots, cracked Styrofoam containers,

and 1,999 other reminders that we are here.

I don't think anyone left their boots on the moon,

but we certainly left our footprints and a flag

telling all around the world, “We were here!”

Walk around, look around, and on the ground

we can see all around each other’s footprints,

shoes and socks, our DNA, our fingerprints,

and  9,999 other things telling everyone we

are here. We look up at the moon. It’s silver

light - it’s night time bright - but unlike earth it's

dead, so we better keep healthy our down here. 

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

October 11,  2017

GOING,  GOING,  GONE 

Autumn leaves 
fade and fall ....

Skin wrinkles ....

The sun rises ....

The sun sets ....

Everything seems easy

till we have to do it ....

We’re handed the menu ....
We enjoy the meal and the company ....

We’re handed the bill ....

Life: we fall in love;

we have a family;

they leave to start a family;

my spouse dies.

Life:  cribs till caskets 
and the great in between ....

Life: chocolate milk shakes ....

I love those pulling slurps
and then the long slide into God,
please God.

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

THE BOOK OF JONAH

INTRODUCTION

This will be an information homily - simply ten thoughts  and  comments about “The Book of Jonah.”

I’m doing this because today’s first reading for this  27th Tuesday in Ordinary Time - is from the Book of Jonah.  Today’s gospel is a story about Martha and Mary - but I’ll save that  for some other day.

SO 10 COMMENTS ABOUT THE BOOK OF JONAH

First: We get 5 readings from Jonah in our Lectionary. That’s this red book that contains the  Mass readings.  Every other year we get these 3 readings we have this week. Then we get a reading from Jonah in Lent and another one on the 3^rd  Sunday in Year  B. That’s it. But that’s not bad for a short document - only 4 chapters in the Jewish Bible

Second: The one thing everyone remembers and wonders about the Book of Jonah  is that he’s tossed into the sea - is swallowed by a big fish and then spends 3 days in the belly of that big fish. It’s quite a fish story.  Do we take that literally? Artists love to picture this scene. Writers on the Bible often bring up the question of Jonah being in the belly of the beast.

Third: This document has various literary forms in it - which makes it quite unique. It is satire.  It has legends. It can be seen as a parable. It has some wisdom literature in it.  It’s a prophetic book - Jonah is a preacher and a prophet. It has some history and facts: there was a city named Nineveh.  So it’s mixed bag - a little of this and a little of that in a little space.

Fourth: He preaches not to Israel - but to the Assyrians. That’s different. He’s a universalist  - different from most of the other prophets - who preach mainly to and at Israel. Jonah doesn’t seem concerned about these foreigners - but God does.

Fifth: He is not the greatest of the prophets. In fact a book written about him is entitled, ‘The Reluctant Prophet.” When God calls him to go this way, he gets on a boat and goes the other way.

Sixth: He is the most successful of the prophets - the Ninevites in 6 figures - repent - yet in reality history tells us that Nineveh was badly destroyed as a city.

Seventh: As prophet he appears as a very mixed up prophet. He runs away from God. He yells at God - yet in the long run - after the everything - he still sticks with God.

Eight: It’s date varies. It writes about the 8^th  century B.C. - but it was probably written in the 5th  century B.C.

Ninth: His stories remain and work their way into Christian scriptures - in wonderings about Jesus - and his resurrection. I think it was the 3 days in the belly of the whale or big fish and the 3 days in the grave - that is the obvious connection

Tenth: It stresses the mercy and forgiveness of God - much more than the justice of God - with people being punished.

CONCLUSION

I don’t know how many people I’ve heard say, “I have to read the Bible.”  I like to suggest, “Think just one book at a time.” 

Think the Book of Jonah and with these 10 thoughts in mind, come up with your thoughts and comments about the Book of Jonah - and type into Google, “Book of Jonah” for further observations.

October 10, 2017

WATER: 71 PER CENT 

OF THE EARTH

Some people have an undertow

about them.  They get close to us

and they pull us down every time.

Some people are just the opposite.

They are like lake water or a bowl

of water for a dog to sip and savor.

Some people are like soft sweet rain -

on the sidewalk - or the lawn - and they

stay with us - easy - like a long rainy day.

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

JUDITH: 

DO  THE  MATH 

Judith was 63.

She used to be a math teacher - but when she was teaching in a Catholic school in Chicago - she secretly always wanted to be a religion teacher.

But she was good in Math - really good in Math - and was appreciated big time at her Elementary School  - by parents and kids alike. Parents knew Math was a key key to life - getting a good job - what have you. Do the Math - know what the best paying jobs were.  Religion - not everyone thought of that as a key key to life.

When she retired,  she and her husband Jonah moved closer to their three kids - all of whom lived relatively near each other - in and around Atlanta, Georgia. So it was a logical move. Besides that Jonah was from near Atlanta and still had lots of family down there.

Jonah was a Baptist - big on the Bible - and taught Judith a good bit of Bible stuff all through their marriage. Both went to their respective churches - at times one going to the other’s church - and both agreed Baptist preachers were much better than Catholic preachers - but spoke longer.

Having moved to the Atlanta area and having their parents nearby was wonderful - especially for their kids.   

Obvious first reason, the kids would have a chance to experience this set of grandparents.

Second reason: instant baby sitters.

Third, but less obvious reason, the kids would get a chance to have grandma, Judith, or "JuJu"  - as the 7 grand kids called her, to help them with their math homework.

Judith and Jonah soon discovered what lots of grandparents were discovering: their kids were not going to Church - so that also  meant their grand kids were not going to church either.

And their 3 kids had a Catholic education in grammar school, high school and college.

What to do?

Well it happened by accident - it really did - but maybe this is the way the grace of God works - by accident - at times.

Judith was babysitting this Saturday. Jonah was fishing the whole weekend off Savannah with two brothers-in-law - one of whom had a neat power boat. Their daughter Jane - was at a wedding in Chicago with her husband.

Jane’s youngest granddaughter Jessica asked her grandma to tell her a story. She was an only child. Judith asked Jessica, “Do you have a story book with you?”

“Nope. I left all my story books at home.”

Judith spotted her husband’s Bible just sitting there next to his small beer and TV remote table. She opened it up and the first page she opened to was Luke 10: 25-37. It was the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Sitting there on their big comfy couch - with Jessica snuggling into her grandma - Judith heard Jessica say, “Okay, ready now, start reading!”

JuJu  started reading.  Jessica loved the way her grandma could tell a story. She would add and multiply as she went along.

She smiled to herself - thinking, “I love doing this. Finally I’m teaching religion - but OKAY - I also love Math.”

“That’s a serious story,” said Jessica. “Wow! Do people still beat up and rob people and leave them half dead?”

“Yep,” said Judith. “Sorry to say, ‘Still yep.’”

Then Judith said to Jessica, “Let’s go for a walk. Do you want to go to the park?”

As they walked down the street, an ambulance went flying by - with it’s lights flashing and horn blowing.

Jessica said, “Look, there goes a Good Samaritan bringing someone to the hospital.”

Judith - said to herself. “Wow, she picked that story up fast.”

Judith continued talking to herself as they walked to the park, letting Jessica, climb the different bars and steps and slides there.

Judith then thought, “Maybe teaching kids the parables of Jesus is the first place to start when teaching religion.”

Then Judith added, “And our grand kids are not getting any religion.”

After they got back home, after they had lunch, Jessica said, “Grandma how about another story from Jesus?”

“Okay,” said Judith.

This time she opened to Luke 15 and she read the story - the parable - of the lady who lost one of her 10 coins.  She searched everywhere for it - under the couch, behind the couch, in her bedroom, down the cellar, in the garage, till she finally found it.  And she was so happy she threw a party.

Jessica said, “That’s silly - a party - for just finding a lost coin!”

“Yep,” said grandma. “Just for a coin. That tells us how much God loves us.”

“Wow,” said Jessica. “Wow.”

During the week -  following that first weekend of reading,  Judith was telling Jonah, her husband, about that story of the lost coin and how she wondered about that too. Kind of strange, throwing a party for finding a lost coin.

“Well,” Jonah said, “When I was a kid, I once heard a Baptist Preacher telling us that it was a wedding coin. Brides used to sew the coins they received at their weddings onto their special dresses and gowns and cloaks - and headbands. The more coins - the more important she was.”

“Oh,” said Judith. “Wait till I see Jessica again. She’d love to hear that.”

And Judith started telling not just Jessica, but her other 6 grand kids, James, John, Joseph, Jan, Judith Jr, and Jennifer,  the parables of Jesus.

And her grand kids started getting religion - slowly - and two of their kids got back to church as well.

Hey do the Math.

One of the parables Judith read to her grand kids was,  The Parable of the Seeds. Jessica got it. It still made sense.

Some seed falls on rock - and doesn’t grow - but some seed lands on good soil - and produces, 30, 60 and 100fold.

Do the Math.

-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-

This is a story I wrote this morning for today's Mass - the 27th Monday in Ordinary Time - Readings Jonah 1: 1-2: 2, 11 and Luke 10: 25-37.

Next it hit me to write up a possible plan for Grandparents as Catechists - using the parables. So here goes:

         -O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-

GRANDPARENTS AS 

STORY TELLING CATECHISTS

Using a couch as a classroom, sit down on that couch with a small grand kid or two and read a parable - only one at a time -  using each of the following 12 Parables.  Don't hesitate to paraphrase - put it into a modern setting - or two or three versions - making sure the kid is getting the story or parable.

As a result the kid or kids will be become familiar with a Bible - and remember the old adage: the teacher always learns the most.

The Lost Coin  - Luke 15: 8-10

The Lost Sheep -Luke 15: 4-7

The Lost Son - Luke 15: 11 - 31

The Good Samaritan - Luke 10: 25-37

The Workers in the Vineyard - Matthew 20:1-16

A Man Had Two Sons - Yes and No - Matthew 21: 28-32

The Man Who Wouldn't Forgive - Matthew 18: 23-35

Lazarus and the Rich Man Luke - 16: 19-31

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector - Luke 18: 9-14

The Sower and the Seed - Luke 8: 5-8, then 11-15

The Barren Fig Tree - Luke 13: 6-9

-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-

© Andy Costello, Might Work this into a book or article or pamphlet.

GETS  ONE THINKING

My sister Mary told me that one of the 58 killed in Las Vegas had a name like mine.  Got me thinking ....

Years ago there was a story of a guy who had the same name as I have and he took a bump on a plane out of Chicago - which crashed. Got me thinking ....

Andrea Castilla

Photo

Andrea Castilla.Creditvia Associated Press

It seemed like the Route 91 Harvest Festival would be the perfect place for Andrea Castilla, a sales associate at Sephora in Huntington Beach, Calif., to celebrate her 28th birthday. Her sister, Athena, would be there with her fiancé, and Andrea and her boyfriend, Derek Miller, decided to join them.

And there was to be a surprise, according to People.com: Mr. Miller had been planning to propose.

He never had the chance. Ms. Castilla was killed in the attack, according to a text message from her aunt, Marina Castilla Parker, who posted photos to Facebook of Ms. Castilla beaming at the festival with her sister and their partners.

In an interview with People, Athena Castilla said she and her fiancé tried to keep Ms. Castilla from being stepped on after she fell. Athena said that strangers had helped put Andrea into the back of a truck for the drive to the hospital.

“I was holding onto her head and trying to keep her from losing so much blood, talking to her, kissing her, telling her she was going to make it,” Athena Castilla said. “We all did our best to help her get through it. We did the best we could.”

October  9, 2017

EXPERIENCES

It’s not whether you experienced it;

it’s the feeling of knowing - being 
present - to the feeling you had - when
you experienced it. Namely: celebrated, 
honored, singled out, betrayed, hurt, 
rejected, succeeded, failed, loved, 
cancelled out, forgotten, cheated on, 
stolen from, tricked, won, lost, 
avoided, not been forgiven, lied to,

challenged, welcomed at a front door.

Name and admit those experiences.

Now we can talk to each other.
Now we can be one with each other.
Do you know, now we can really get
to know each other. Did you know that?

 © Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

A  BUNCH  OF  GRAPES 

A bunch of grapes hung there tight and together on the vine.

They enjoyed the sunshine  - and they enjoyed the rain.

They liked talking to each other - laughing - watching sunrises and sunsets.

They liked it when a sweet wind swung them back and forth in the breeze - hanging together in a rich looking cluster of grapes - like kids on swings in the park or on a ride in the amusement park.

Not a bad gig - this being a grape.

“Hey,” grapes would say to each other, “beats being a rock or a clump of hard dirt.”

Grapes liked it that people bragged about how great they were - and the great future ahead for grapes - some becoming grape jam but in this vineyard becoming the best wine money can buy.

And fine wine was in. It used to be that beer got the most cheers - but now it was wine. Even men toasted with it - clinking see-through wine glasses together during football games. Imagine that?  Football games…. Wine!

Time rolled on. The vineyard owner and his wife, along with their two teenage sons and two teenage daughters - and all their workers looked forward to harvest time.

It would be soon - very soon.

All the grapes from one end of the vineyard to the other end of the vineyard - from top to bottom - from row to row - if you listened carefully - after everyone went to bed - would be singing, “Soon and very soon….” Then they would croon in harmony as a background refrain: “Soon. Soon. Soon.”

Different grapes started wondering more and more - where they would end up.

Would it be at the table of a millionaire or some governor or  mayor or movie actress?

It was the first day of October - when they heard the news. It was harvest time. They heard the tractors getting closer and closer  - pulling wagons with neat bright white plastic boxes.

“Chug …. Chug …. Chug….

“Chug …. Chug …. Chug….

“Snip …. Snip …. Snip….

“Snip …. Snip …. Snip….”

That hurt - being a cluster of grapes - snipped off the vine with a sharp, sharp, silver cutter and then thrown into a big while plastic box. 

“Uh oh,”  one grape said. “It looks like a coffin to me.”

And then the lid was closed.

Then the tractor chuged, chugged,   four white plastic boxes over to a big truck  that already had about 15 plastic boxes of grapes on it.

When the truck was filled with these white plastic boxes of grapes it was brought to a big cinder block building with a big sign on the outside, “WINERY”.

The boxes were taken off the truck and stacked inside in a damp - cold - room.

The grapes were now quite nervous - wondering what was next.

They were being kept in the dark - and they wished for one more day - of sunrise and sunset.

The next day - it was well after sunrise - but they didn’t know that - they were poured out - all the grapes were poured out - into a big wooden round vat. It was called a wine press.

“Oh no,” different grapes thought, seeing this big wooden round press - like a plunger coming down on them. “We’re finished.”

The squeeze was on.

Every last drop of grape juice was squeezed out of them.

Then they were tasted, tested, blended, mixed with add ons and all that.

Then they were put in barrels and lined up in storage.

And all was silent.

It was time for them to ferment - to become wine.

Time rolled on.

From time to time they could hear barrels being moved.

They had aged.

How do I look? They wondered.

Then they were bottled and labeled and shipped.

Once more the question came up: “Where will I end up?”

Fast forward - it was years now - since all this happened - but different wines were bragging where they ended up.

They bragged about being at weddings  and banquets. They bragged about being wined and dined.

But there was this one bottle - that was very quiet.

And everyone wondered why.

Then this wine told those close by.

I have been chosen to become altar wine.

I have been chosen to go into a chalice at Mass.

I have been chosen to become the Blood of Jesus at Mass.

I have been chosen to bring people together in Holy Communion.

And the others were amazed - this was Hall of Fame stuff - in the world of wine - but not everyone knew this - but the different types of wine knew.

And you could hear at times - wines singing on the vine, "Holy, Holy, Holy, some day - some of us - will become the blood of Christ. Amen."

October 8,  2017

October 8, 2017

WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING AT

If you live near mountains, rock

mountains will your poems be.

If you live at the edge of the desert,

empty deserts will your poems be.

If you live near the coast,

sand and sea will your poems be.

But as for me, it’s people, there the

ones I do my wondering and writing about.

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017